Alabama Football: Going behind enemy lines to evaluate the Aggies

Alabama football fans, get some inside scoop with Texas A&M Aggies intel for you, from behind enemy lines in College Station.

Alabama football fans want to learn as much as possible about the new and apparently improved Aggies from TAMU. Bama Hammer reached out to our counterparts at Gig’Em Gazette and they provided some valuable inside information.

There is a historical bond between the two schools, even deeper than Paul Bryant and Gene Stallings. Many Alabama football fans wish the Aggies well, as long as that does not include beating the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Enthusiasm is high in College Station. Fans are proud to call their team the Fighting Texas Aggies. Even from a distance, it looks to us like Jimbo Fisher has made a quick impact on the Aggies.

In the Aggies’ two-point loss to Clemson, the enthusiasm of the fans was reinforced by a solid team performance against a top program. Does that mean the Aggies can hang with the Tide? Let’s go behind enemy lines and see what can be learned.

How the Aggies define their strengths

• Quarterback Kellen Mond is the primary reason for optimism in College Station. After Mond torched Clemson for 466 yards, the Aggies believe they can move the ball on anyone.
• There is also strong belief in the total rushing yards leader, among SEC backs, Trayveon Williams. He is compact and powerful and the Aggies say “he can take it to the house anytime.”
• The Aggies defensive front is another strength. Kingsley Keke, Landis Durham and others “are holding opponents to a measly 3.6 yards-per-carry average.”

How the Aggies define their weaknesses

• New defensive coordinator, Mike Elko has a history of making big improvements in defenses at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. He is expected to do the same in College Station but the Aggies have given “up a ton of big plays so far. The pass defense has had trouble staying with faster receivers and tackling after they catch the ball.”
• TAMU center, Erik McCoy is not expected to be 100 percent. “The offensive line has been better this season, but they still gave up a few sacks to Clemson.”
• Getting to the quarterback has been a challenge for the Aggies’ defenders. TAMU has “five sacks, but four came against their last opponent UL-Monroe.”

If our Aggie buddies are correct, not pressuring Tua and not being able to catch or tackle receivers could lead to another Tide offensive explosion. After the tight Clemson loss, it seemed possible could pose some trouble for the Tide. Kellen Mond having success against the Crimson Tide makes sense. It could be a situation that however many points the Aggies can deliver, the Tide will produce more, maybe a lot more.

The Aggie faithful believe their team can control the Tide’s rushing game. If they do, the game can be competitive. If they don’t – we’re not sure the Aggies have the roster for a backup plan.